Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

Outdoor Furnaces - Manufacturers WITH EPA-Certified Models => Central Boiler => Topic started by: Central_Boiler_3200_Owner on November 14, 2011, 07:56:37 PM

Title: wood splitting
Post by: Central_Boiler_3200_Owner on November 14, 2011, 07:56:37 PM
Owners manual recommends splitting the wood...  I have been throwing in 36" logs from 2 - 8" thick.  Do i only have to split larger wood?
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: Ridgekid on November 14, 2011, 08:57:16 PM
Welcome to the site!

I split anything over 6" diameter. Seems to work good.
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: Scratch on November 15, 2011, 03:22:14 PM
+1 here.
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: MattyNH on November 16, 2011, 07:30:45 PM
Theres no set rule on splitting wood size ...Its just  a matter of what size wood for lifting, that is comfortable for you etc.. and  to handle...Thats the way I look at it..
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: BoilerHouse on November 16, 2011, 08:13:46 PM
Split wood dries faster.
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: MTJAG on November 17, 2011, 05:30:26 AM
I started off this season burning 16"-18" rounds and that works pretty well on cold nights when the temp is in the teens or single digits.  I do however, get what seems to be a lot of creosote build up and some black leakage from the bottom of the door, particularly when the temps are only in the 30's.  So, I've started splitting those rounds.  I still burn rounds up to 6" or so and up to four feet long.  I am burning primarily aspen along with some pinion and ponderosa pine.  All of my wood was standing dead timber from the USFS and my climate is very dry.
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: Scott7m on November 17, 2011, 08:56:21 AM
Just go to YouTube and type in central boiler and look for the guy with the hydraulic lift loading his cb.  That should be of interest to all of you
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: Ridgekid on November 17, 2011, 10:03:06 AM
Save you the trouble. I had it in saved. LOL Of course he has a larger CB than us.

CENTRAL BOILER OUTDOOR WOOD FURNACE HYDRAULIC LOG LIFTER (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSCYKFEoSiY#ws)
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: MattyNH on November 17, 2011, 08:21:48 PM
Ive stuffed logs pretty close to that size.. Nice getting a 2 day burn out of it.. lol.. But then again.. Ive been shocked it didn't last all that long.....Def depends on the type of wood!!
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: fireboss on November 18, 2011, 02:25:02 AM
the big rounds are to much work ! I only burn 6 to 8 inc logs . Some i split some i dont!
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: MTJAG on November 18, 2011, 04:35:53 PM
I don't have anything quite that big, but I do have some that round and maybe only 20" long.  They do burn and usually takes a couple of days.

Got a question for you guys....how often do you clean your ashes out?  I stir mine about every day, but with a big chunk of wood in there, it's hard to clean out all the bits and pieces.  Do you just stir daily and clean out once a week or so?
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: woodywoodchucker on November 18, 2011, 07:36:15 PM
Im not sure about this. I know I should clean it more often than I do but I have been running sence sept and have 2 5 galon steel buckets out as of todat.Burned about a cord of wood so far.
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: mikenc on November 19, 2011, 07:15:28 AM
If i can get it in stove without splitting i dont split. Have some mabe 16 inches dia. 22 inches long. If I  think its to heavy I split to save the back. Neat lift in video. Seen one that used a manual winch instead of hydraulic. If my fire box was bigger that would be a idea i would consider.
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: MTJAG on November 19, 2011, 10:53:00 AM
I think I've been to ambitious about cleaning out the ashes.  I believe I will just stir them once a day and let them stay in there until it's just complete ash.

Also, on another post in this forum, somebody made reference to the fact that if your wood is too long, you will loose some heat going up the stack because it is too far up in front of the plentem that hangs down. 
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: woodywoodchucker on November 21, 2011, 03:50:24 PM
I think I've been to ambitious about cleaning out the ashes.  I believe I will just stir them once a day and let them stay in there until it's just complete ash.

Also, on another post in this forum, somebody made reference to the fact that if your wood is too long, you will loose some heat going up the stack because it is too far up in front of the plentem that hangs down.
I LIKE TO LEAVE THE ASH TILL IN LOOKS ALMOST LIQUID, THEN TAKE A FEW SHOVELS OUT.I do also think that if you rake regulary you almost never have to remove ash.
 As for wood splitting, I never do unless it cant fit in the door. I never try to pull in a big round first thing in the morning.I need to be wormed up first.
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: MTJAG on November 21, 2011, 03:58:40 PM
I with you on the ash removal now.  This past week I let them stay in there just stirring everyday.

I have split a bunch, but I still have a bunch of large rounds.  I was considering buying a splitter, but I will just continue with my 8#maul and wedges...good workout.
Title: Re: wood splitting
Post by: Central_Boiler_3200_Owner on January 02, 2012, 05:42:34 PM
Thanks to all...

That was some big log in the video....